Reports this morning indicate that a 1997 Ford F150 white 4X4 was taken from a location on 14th Street, not far from the popular Lawrenceville Drive-Inn restaurant.

Then, a Jeep Cherokee was boosted from one of the clubs in town; we're working to find out which one.

When we learn more, we'll bring it. If you know anything, post it. And keep checking back for updates.

]]>http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/2015/03/29/vehicle-thefts-continue-in-lawrence/feed/0THIS MONTH’S PRINT HEADLINES, CONSOLIDATED ELECTION 2015 PREVIEW!http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/2015/03/27/this-months-print-headlines-consolidated-election-2015-preview/
http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/2015/03/27/this-months-print-headlines-consolidated-election-2015-preview/#commentsSat, 28 Mar 2015 00:40:55 +0000http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/?p=61835Well, here it is again, another election season upon us. This election will be for the municipalities and school districts, as well as various other little ballot questions and filling of unexpired terms. This issue gives you the run-down on our core counties that we regularly cover, their candidates and ballot issues, along with the big stories that are going on in each other regions, and for ease of your reading enjoyment, we present to you THIS MONTH'S PRINT HEADLINES.

Print headlines are they way you can preview the articles in the current issue on stands, to see whether you need to run out and get it right away, or maybe just pick one up tomorrow when you're near your favorite vendor. Or, if you have an online membership to the e-Edition, you can simply click the headline link and it'll take you straight to that article. But if you're not an e-Edition member, all you have to do is click any headline link or this link here, and it'll take you straight to the signup page...so do it! Don't miss out! Article that you find in the print version and at the e-Edition are NOT what you find here on the site...this site is for breaking news and updates; the real story is at the print version/e-Edition, and that's what you want to be reading!

Print headlines are brought to you with the dateline first (the location where the material in the article took place), then the headline link, followed by a brief synopsis delivered in our cynical Disclosure style. They are broken up by sections as they appear in the paper: Front page, back page (our second front page), pages 2 and 3, Egypt, Heartland, Central, features if there are any, and Op-Ed. And now, without further ado, here are THIS MONTH'S PRINT HEADLINES!

FRONT PAGE

SALINE CO.---Heavy slate for Harrisburg council: The usual suspects' names appear on this year's election selections for the city of Harrisburg...but there are some names that are new, and you should be watching for them. There's a strong possibility that, if people vote correctly in this years' municipal election for Harrisburg's city council, the tide could turn and some of the debacles over the past four years could be fully addressed...and finances returned to normal. This sizable article also contains the rest of the Saline County ballot information, including Eldorado, Raleigh, Stonefort, Muddy, Galatia and Carrier Mills...as well as the school board and school question issues (about bonds, in particular).

HAMILTON CO.---Earp caught in Hamilton theft: Finally, Hamilton County gets their Earp. And not only that, but they got another Olney punk who is alleged to have lied about the theft situation that Flav and his buddy Daniel Royse got hemmed up in last month: James L. Williams, age 27. Read this article to find out what THAT's all about.

Someone's trying to hint, we think...

GALLATIN CO.---HS graffiti artists busted after spree: A mom and her teenage son were tooling through Shawneetown on the way to church a couple of Sundays ago when they saw his name---spelled wrong, no less---on the side of a building, along with some obscene artwork. The alleged perpetrators of this misdeed, along with some other similar misdeeds, have all been rounded up. This is the article about that, and about other issues brewing at Gallatin County High School, where the big names keep getting away with things.

MARION---Nine seek council seats; three run for mayor in City of Marion Consolidated Election 2015: The headline says it all: It's a big race for mayor and councilperson in Marion, the biggest city in our coverage area, and our Williamson County correspondent has interviews with all the candidates. Don't miss this one, as it's an important election, literally one of the most important in downstate Illinois, and one that even the upstate media is watching closely.

PAGE 2

Bryce Fehrenbacher, running for Olney City Council

RICHLAND CO.---Richland County may see low numbers countywide, but Olney race is of interest: It's great to see new faces emerging running for municipal and other offices, and the City of Olney has a four-way race for two seats on the council that has just that. Read this article to get informed....and don't let our numbers in Richland drop so dismally this election, okay? Oh, and IMPORTANT NOTE: This is the first time in our publication history that Brian James O'Neill Jr. didn't have a place on the ballot. This is cause for celebration if nothing else is.

SALINE CO.---IV drug user to cops: "I have a loaded rig on me": How anyone can voluntarily stick a sharp object in their own arm is beyond me...but then again, these are the people who put a mixture of toxic substances into their bodies in various forms, so hey...there's already something seriously wrong with them to begin with.

SALINE CO.---Woman charged with burning handicapped man: Apparently, Danielle Henderson didn't know that there's a warrant for her arrest, according to griping she was doing on our Facebook page about this early Friday morning. No, Danielle, you're not in jail...we just FOIA'd for mugs and your name was in it, so they sent an old mug. Stop doing things to get arrested, and you might not end up in the pages here.

SALINE CO.---Stolen car on West Raymond leads to drug bust: This was the subject of a lot of interest when it was going down; we weren't in town and didn't get it as it was breaking, so we're covering it here in depth for you now.

WHITE CO.---Pair face methamphetamine charges in White County: The dope report out of White, which got greater exposure this month (as well as placed into the Egypt section instead of the Central section, where it belongs, due to the abundance of election stories coming out of Central) because dang....Denton Aud has really been hammering the dopers lately in the courtroom, and apparently, they're still not getting the message.

WHITE CO.---Carmi teen sex offender charged with not registering: In 2009, lil 15-year-old child sex offender (with babies, no less) TNT (Tyler Nicole Tracy) Wolf was asked by Judge Tom Sutton if she understood the terms of her probation, and then the terms of what she was going to have to do for the rest of her life as a sex offender: Register her presence within three days, every time she chose to move her residence. Judging by the amount of times she's screwed that up, I think we can safely say she either didn't understand...or she's simply not capable of following through.

JASPER CO.---Relatively full ballots in Jasper Co., to their credit: The same can be said for Jasper County; it's been a good effort to make sure at least the seats will be filled, and there are a few races, too. Now this movement should move a little further south, out of Jasper and Crawford counties and into Richland and Lawrence....

EDWARDS CO.---Edwards County comes out of the good-ol-boys mentality and into the light: It was a rough one when we first began covering elections in Edwards County in 2003, because the GOBs (Good Ol Boys) held sway. But no more. Edwards County removed their "dry" status two years ago by ballot referendum, and now they're getting a medical marijuana grow op. One of the tiniest counties in Illinois is on the map...and the municipal/village elections countywide are featured here.

WHITE CO.---Few contests on the White ballot; many empty spots: We have to say...this is a rarity for White County. Usually, the ballot spots have a name on them; very few blanks abound. But this year, that's not the case. Hopefully, the interest can be spurred a little bit in upcoming elections...and the low number of names won't be too adverse on the turnout.

RICHLAND CO.---Backgrounds in violence cases prove interesting: Backgrounds are nearly always interesting, which is why we run them. In this particular instance with the crimes-against-persons report coming out of Richland, they're VERY interesting.

Correction/amplification: We got it wrong on a front page article last month, and here, we correct it. We bust ourselves out, so you don't have to!

OP-ED

Columns
SURLY & UNCOOPERATIVE (Jack): 'Hell to pay' doesn't begin to describe it: Some people think everydamnthing I write is a lie. Others think everydamnthing I write is the indisputable truth. The problem is, the former are talking about articles coming from official sources, court files and government meetings, and the latter are talking about columns. I'll let the discerning decide what this piece actually is.

TECH TALK (Chris): Are terrorists gonna take over your car remotely? Why even ask a question like that...? Well, there is plenty of information to indicate that this might be a reality in the near future, as the technology is already there. We're warning you about stuff like this; we hope you're listening and taking steps to remedy what's coming if you don't.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (letters): Being distressed by Harrisburg's Legion; strange activity at Williamson County Fire District; interesting piece on the Harrisburg school board public question; and information about ISIS.

No Back Over Your Tales this month, as this is a special edition, essentially, and we didn't have a paper five years ago; that feature will be back in the April edition! And that's it for your PRINT HEADLINES...get to clicking...or get out and pick up your issue!

CRAWFORD CO., Ill.---The man who allegedly lead Lawrence and Crawford county authorities on a high-speed chase Saturday night has been taken into custody.

Authorities in Crawford County received a call about a suspicious person last night (Tuesday, March 24) somewhere on Route 33 (reports are not specific).

When they arrived at the mysterious location, they found Stephen Watson, 27, of Shelbyville....who just happened to be the tall, slender, light-haired guy wearing a hoodie that one of the responding deputies to the scene Saturday night recognized as the driver of the white Ford Taurus that eluded officers.

The Taurus had allegedly been stolen from Mach 1 in Lawrenceville and fled north on Illinois Route 1 into Crawford County. Disabled by stop sticks in the Trimble area, the car was stopped, but the alleged thief was not...he bailed out of the car and eluded officers, but apparently not before one of them got a good look at him.

And lo and behold, Watson was wanted out of Shelby County for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Watson was taken into custody and it's likely he's going to be questioned in both counties to see just what charges shake out where. We'll keep you posted.

]]>http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/2015/03/25/cops-catch-their-man-lawrence-car-thief-suspect-in-custody-in-crawford/feed/1Some weird races highlight municipal, school board elections in Lawrence Countyhttp://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/2015/03/23/some-weird-races-highlight-municipal-school-board-elections-in-lawrence-county/
http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/2015/03/23/some-weird-races-highlight-municipal-school-board-elections-in-lawrence-county/#commentsTue, 24 Mar 2015 01:12:07 +0000http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/?p=61515LAWRENCE CO.—As is usually the case, it’s a weird one in some quarters of Lawrence County when it comes to the Consolidated Election this year.

And nowhere is it weirder than in Bridgeport.

Just when everyone thought it was safe to take a deep breath and relish the fact that while federal convict Max Schauf was released March 13 from his stint in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, he can no longer hold an elected office, along comes this year’s race for city alderman and at least one totally unqualified candidate.

Tim Akers, who has more Small Claims cases against him for what amounts to fraud than any embezzlement/theft Schauf could ever have envisioned, is going to be the alderman for Bridgeport Ward 3 because no one is running against him.

This does not bode well for the city as a whole, since Akers has gained a reputation over the years as a con man along with his buddy, Louie “Scam-pbell” Campbell.

Only a year ago, the two were featured in an extensive article about the stunt Akers pulled on media owner Chris Richardson over in Knox County, Indiana, when Richardson hired Akers to sell ads for his Hometown News (HTN) print, web and television station venture in Monroe City.

Akers made a complete disaster of the hire, and left Richardson holding the bag for an untold dollar amount in unpaid ads and undone work. Worse, it appeared that Akers took off with funds that legitimate advertisers believed they were paying to HTN when in reality, they didn’t receive their ads, and Akers never turned in either money nor ad material to the paper/website.

Did he kill IGA?

When his contract with HTN was terminated, Akers once again hooked up with Campbell and schemed to work with Borowiak’s IGA in Lawrenceville selling “digital ads” which appeared on small screens at each checkout counter in the business.

Disclosure, long being familiar with Trevor Borowiak from other IGA stores in Albion and Grayville, called the grocer and warned him about the Akers/Campbell team, but he hired them on anyway.

Not long thereafter, the store went out of business.

Both Akers and Campbell whined mightily and leveled threats both verbally to sources as well as online as keyboard commandoes after the article about the depths to which they’ve sunk to scam people out of money hit print in the April/May 2014 edition.

The threats amounted to suing Disclosure for libel.

However, in order for something to be libel, it has to be A—false and B—made with malicious intent.

The article was not only both completely factual and backed up by documentation at every turn, but it also was provided with due diligence and no malice aforethought, as Disclosure contacted state-level authorities asking them what those who had been scammed by the duo could do as a recourse for money lost.

Subsequently, no lawsuit was ever filed.

What the good people of Bridgeport, who spent twelve solid years at the mercy of the likes of Schauf (who availed the city of tens of thousands of dollars until in late 2012 when he was caught and arrested by federal agents), will do with the likes of Akers on the city council remains to be known…but they’re stuck with him for four years, as no one is on the ballot against him.

Akers is likely merely painting a target on his back, since his proclivities for less-than-honest dealings will be put under the microscope with a position on the public teat. That, too, adds another layer of protection for anything any media outlet might produce about him, since in 2002 the Florida Supreme Court ruled that a media source can outright lie about a public official if they see fit, since the public official is at a level of civil immunity that the public—and in turn, the media—can criticize to the extent of issuing untruths, and they can thus be protected.

It’s Disclosure’s prediction that Akers won’t, as a result of this, last his full four years, since he already has a reputation for not being able to finish what he starts anyway.

The only unknown in this is how long he’ll actually last before giving up the post as alderman.

In Ward 2, Bridgeport will have Jason Thacker as an alderman, a far sight better than Akers and a welcome addition to the council.

There is no candidate for Ward 1, so one will have to be appointed.

The ’villes: Lawrenceville, St. Francisville, Russellville

Things are kind of odd in many of the ’villes of Lawrence, too.

In Lawrenceville, it’s the usual candidates, and no competition whatsoever.

In Ward 1, Victor Fritch is on the ballot.

In Ward 2, it’s the disagreeable Danny Lynn.

In Ward 3, it’s the respectable Jep Blaketer.

And in Ward 4, it’s Shonda Curtis, the recently-divorced spouse of city cop Ryan Curtis.

Sadly, that’s all there is to Lawrenceville’s races; since former mayor Brian Straub fell from grace in a 2013 meth arrest, stuff just isn’t contentious there anymore.

But if anyone wants a contender for weirdness, they have no further to look than St. Francisville.

There, the singular contested alderman seat lies in Ward 2, where incumbent Francis “Speed” Moody (there’s no accounting for how he got that nickname) is being challenged by Amy Jo Madden.

Disclosure learned a few months back that Madden was enraged over the treatment Wabash Cannonball Toll Bridge employee Debbie Harrington was given by the St. F board when Harrington had to take a leave of absence following the illness, then death, of her mother Ola Mae Breen.

Due to Moody’s ridiculously brusque attitude toward his constituents, Madden saw fit to get herself on the ballot and has been campaigning ever since.

If she ascends to the office, it’ll be the first in a long, long time that someone has supplanted a St. F incumbent, since A—the city plays hell getting anyone to run at all and B—when an incumbent is challenged, the challenger usually loses big time because of how entrenched the incumbents really are in the minds of the fluoride-swilling voters who don’t seem to know that they CAN kick someone out of office.

Apparently, however, no one wanted to run in Ward 1, leaving that responsibility up to former mayor John Guite.

Disclosure thought perhaps Guite might’ve learned the hard way that public office, when you’re not doing it right, is a difficult path to trod, after his two terms that ended when he didn’t run for re-election in 2009.

Guite is the one who brought in the pox upon all law enforcement in Lawrence County (and perhaps all of southern Illinois), Billy “PeeWee” Darnell, whose tenure as a part-time “police chief” of the little town of 700 souls has been marked by violence, abuse, accusations of drug use and sex with underage girls, and several lawsuits, all of which he’s lost or is in the process of losing.

Why Guite is seeking more punishment as a now-alderman is unknown at this time, but he’s the only one running in Ward 1.

In Ward 3, low-key Wayne Kohlhause is the only one on the ballot.

And in the village of Russellville, where many believe they need to just follow the former village of Birds into disincorporated oblivion, there are actually three ballot entries and a write-in for three positions as village alderman.

Bertha Pinkstaff, Nita Waggoner and George Woodward have had their names on the ballot; Jay Foreman was able to get in paperwork that qualified him as a write-in candidate. Theirs are four-year terms being sought.

For a two-year unexpired term, Stephen Auteberry is seeking alderman in the village of Russellville.

Racing in Sumner; odds and ends

Interestingly, there are actually races in three wards in the city of Sumner….and all of the ballot slots contain a Brian.

In Ward 1, Eric Perrott and Jess E. Brian are seeking that seat; in Ward 2, it’s Dee Brian Joines versus Tony Inyart; and in Ward 3, Betty L. Brian and Kenneth Abell will by vying for that seat on the council.

Park commissioners are also on the ballot, and while none are contested, it’s at least decent that there is some interest…even if one is a write-in: In Bridgeport, Lanterman Park District commissioner candidates are Terry Andrews, Steve Boatman and John Perrott; and in Lawrence Township’s Park District, a write-in candidate is Grant McDonald.

And in Lawrenceville’s Library District, three will fill three slots: Cynthia Hays-Morris, Luanne H. Negley, and John White are all on the ballot.

School districts and their overlaps from Lawrence

Due to the overlap in various parts of Lawrence County, there are ballots being printed for several school boards, including those in Wabash, Lawrence and Richland.

In Wabash, three are seeking three seats in the Allendale Consolidated School District 17: Miles Marcotte, Amanda Thombleson and Gary A. Buchanan.

In Lawrence, at CUSD 20, District 1, Steve Kocher is the only one on the ballot; however, in District 2, incumbent Mike “Doodle” Seitzinger (continuing the disturbing trend of police officers serving on school boards, as he’s a cop in Lawrenceville) is facing a challenge for a four-year term from Robert Faith.

At CUSD District 4, incumbent (of a sort; after being appointed after duly-elected Mary Benefield moved out of while in District 5, incumbent Keith Weger faces no challenge for his four-year term seat.

And at Red Hill Community Unit School District 10, there are only two vying for three four-year term seats: Chad Hill and Trent Masterson; the third will have to be appointed to the Red Hill board of education.

LAWRENCE/CRAWFORD COs., Ill.---The man who lead police on a high-speed chase Saturday night from Lawrence to Crawford county is still at large.

The unidentified man took a car from the Mach 1 station in Lawrenceville around 9 p.m. Saturday night and headed north on Illinois Route 1, being chased by Lawrence and Crawford officers. The speeds reached in excess of 115 mph according to official reports.

Stop sticks were deployed and took out the tires of the 2003 white Ford Taurus in the Trimble area, shortly after the vehicle ran into a squad car on Route 1.

The man bailed from the Taurus and went running into a wooded area off Route 1, and hasn't been seen since.

Officials describe the man as a white male with a thin build, estimated to be about 6 feet tall, with light-colored hair. When he bailed from the disabled vehicle on foot north of Trimble, he was seen wearing a gray hoodie. There has been no other description information made available.

Disclosure has contacted Lawrence County authorities in order to learn whose vehicle was stolen; we're awaiting a return call.

LAWRENCE/CRAWFORD COs., Ill.---A white vehicle stolen from Lawrenceville's Mach 1 gas station/convenience store has been involved in a high-speed chase on Route 1 through Crawford County tonight, this at about 9:20 p.m.

According to sources in the area, the vehicle was taken from the Mach 1 lot shortly before 9 p.m., and the driver proceeded on Route 1 north, with police in eventual pursuit at speeds of 100 mph.

Stop sticks were deployed in the Trimble area, but not before another vehicle---reportedly a police car---was struck by the fleeing one, being described as a 2003 Ford Taurus.

The stop sticks were reported effective at about 9:25, and the vehicle, which proceeded on busted tires, continued until it began smoking, at which point the driver stopped and bailed.

LAWRENCE CO., Ill. by way of Indiana---Add a local man to the rash of bank robberies that have happened in the tri-state this past year or so.

Elmer Wiman, 66, of Bridgeport, is the latest to be accused of the crime of armed robbery, this after he was arrested yesterday (Tuesday, March 17) following what authorities say is an attempt to rob the Heritage Federal Credit Union on East Boonville-New Harmony Road in Evansville (Vanderburgh County, Indiana).

The alleged robbery attempt occurred at about 1:15 p.m. after Wiman was accused of walking into the place, placed a firearm on the counter, and demanded money.

Wiman took off on Highway 41 north, but was stopped at the Pilot Travel Center at the Haubstadt at the junction with Interstate 64. Responding authorities discovered a handgun, as well as a soft-side cooler...containing case. The amount wasn't disclosed.

Wiman subsequently confessed to the robbery and was taken into custody; his exact status tonight is unknown, but the charges are likely going to be as significant as those of the other robberies over the past several months...the ones that were caught, anyway.

Wiman has no discernable criminal history in Illinois; it's unknown what prompted him to act in the alleged robbery.

]]>http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/2015/03/18/bridgeport-man-confesses-to-bank-robbery-in-indiana/feed/0IDENTITY RELEASED IN THURSDAY LAWRENCEVILLE SUICIDEhttp://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/2015/03/14/identity-released-in-thursday-lawrenceville-suicide/
http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/2015/03/14/identity-released-in-thursday-lawrenceville-suicide/#commentsSat, 14 Mar 2015 23:45:45 +0000http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/?p=61203LAWRENCE CO., Ill.---Officials have confirmed that the "shooting" that took place in Mills Terrace apartments on the east edge of Lawrenceville Thursday was a suicide.

The name of the young man who took his own life with a gun blast is Kameron Lopez, age unknown at this time but he's young, like early 20s.

Here's a screencap of the last message posted to his Facebook page:

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Lopez' Facebook stats say he's originally from Champaign; lives in Evansville, Ind., and graduated from Lawrenceville High School in 2011...but you know how kids mess with their Facebook pages.

The incident occurred at about 3:20-3:30 Thursday afternoon, March 12. Several people were brought in for questioning following the suicide.

Football field to the north of town, Mills Terrace is down the street behind Casey's.

UPDATE 6:15 P.M.

OUR SOURCES INDICATE THIS SITUATION IS NOW BEING VIEWED AS A SUICIDE. This is TENTATIVE information. This might indicate the reason why so many people were being taken in for questioning.

We have a tentative identity of the deceased but are withholding it pending positive identification by the county coroner.

Below is the original post.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LAWRENCE CO., Ill.---Authorities are on scene at Mills Terrace housing in Lawrenceville, where at about 3:30 the public was beginning to learn that there has been a shooting in one of the apartments there.

We've been advised by people on the ground, one of them in an official capacity, that the investigation is currently being conducted as a homicide.

UNOFFICIAL reports indicate that there was an alleged suspect being sought in the vicinity of the old football field near the old high school, which is a few blocks across town from the apartment complex.

OFFICIAL reports indicate that a weapon was transported out of the building, and there are three people so far being taken from the scene for questioning.

LAWRENCE CO., Ill.---The former Lawrence Township supervisor charged a little less than a year ago with a massive theft is now guilty in a court of law of that charge, and has been ordered to make restitution.

Kim Yost-Winningham, 35, of Lawrenceville, was charged last May with a count of Theft of funds from a government entity greater than $10,000 but less than $100,000, in a case that stunned the upper crust of the Lawrenceville area.

Yost-Winningham had the previous year won the election to be Lawrence Township Supervisor, which was her second term to the office.

However, a routine audit in early 2014 found funds missing from as far back as 2011, and the checks that ended up being wonky were ones that bore Winningham's signature. The funds, all totaled, amounted to $34,140.88.

On Friday, March 6, Winningham, represented by Abbey Brian, entered a plea to an amended charge of Class 2 felony Theft (down from the Class 1 felony, which was heavier because it involved theft of funds from a governmental agency) and was ordered to be put on 30 months probation, to complete 30 hours of public service, and to pay a total fines and fees of $2,987. Restitution is apparently to be made on a separate order; a hearing on that matter is scheduled for April 24. In exchange for the plea, the initial Class 1 felony charge and the attendant Official Misconduct felony were both dismissed.

Any update on the restitution issue will be featured in upcoming issues of Disclosure; next one is on stands March 25!